Stuffed Sweet Potatoe with Pecan Marshmellow Streusel

Ingredients
12 large sweet potatoes
3/4 cup (11/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup toasted pecan pieces
1 cup miniature marshmallows
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.


Wash the sweet potatoes, scrubbing them well to remove any dirt. With a fork, prick the sweet potatoes in a couple of spots and place them on a sheet pan. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center goes in easily.


In a large bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, and flour together until it's crumbly-looking. Add the cinnamon, salt, pecans, and marshmallows; fold the streusel topping together to combine.


Slice the sweet potatoes lengthwise down the center and push the ends towards the middle so it opens up. Stuff the sweet potatoes generously with the streusel topping and return to the oven. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and brown.

Asian Shrimp Salad

I absolutely love this recipe!
Salad
Baby spinach
Cherry tomatoes
Red onions
Almonds
Frozen Shrimp Cocktails (make sure drain completely, squeeze out excess water)
Egg Whites

Dressing (mix all ingredients together well)
6 egg yolks (smashed)
Vidalia onions (dressing)
Dash of sesame oil
Tablespoon vinegar or as desired (gives tangy sauce)
Tablespoon sugar
Tablespoon worcheshire
Tablespoon of olive oil
Dash of salt for taste
Garlic powder
Cayenne or paprika powder
Crushed peppercorn or black pepper for taste

BELIEF

I have a firm belief in who I am. I am not sure totally what God has in mind for me but I imagine it to be great. And why not I mean, I express Joy at every turn. I was about to say moment when I remebered I just mentioned the name God in this Blog. Well, to the topic at hand. I have a thing about googling people especially if I hadn't seen you in a while. Just to see what if anything they have been up to. Now tell me, Is it good to believe everything you read? I think you shouldn't unless it is the gospel truth. Why people doubt that I have no idea but chil' believe me I am lifting them in prayer. Any hoot, I believe, there is that word again, that all people are innocent until they prove you wrong. I hate jumping to conclusions based on someone else's views and opinions. I ask questions and get a feel for their action, responses, answers and body language. I consider myself the mentalist and that weird gnome looking guy from the TV show Lie to Me. Is it a good thing to know the truth? Not really. However, knowing is half the battle and it is up to you how you handle that person or situation going forward. So believe in your friends, family and self. Nothing but a clearer more open path follows. Hasn't life been more clearer to you when you were in the Truth. BELIEVE!!

God's Roses

As a Mother I tend to reflect on my life as a child. How innocent the world was and yet how everything I needed was provided. My kids ask for things all the time but I see to their needs being met. God does that for us. We are his children and he makes sure that our needs are met. Can we as adults see the world innocent again. No I fear not. So much of this world has been made more clear because of Satans hand in our lives. So many dying due to fighting in wars. Children are going to bed hungry due to the vast unemployment rate. We have so much viloence in our schools that kids are trying to learn in fear. Parents are not wanting to be parents but kids themselves. With all this being said, I suppose you are wondering why I entitled this 'God's Roses'. Well, I see this world as a Garden that has been overruned with Weeds and Thorns. Sort of lIke Jesus's Parable but in a different more bigger picture. We are the Roses and the World is a garden.

A Day for Mother's

Ave Maria! Mother is god on the lips of a child. I remember the day I became a mother. I was young and very afraid. I have always wondered what it would be like to have a child running round the house laughing and dancing in my living room. Now they are all here and I am feeling so blessed and fulfilled. I have my times when I think they are trying to see if my head will explode. I can't stand it when they do the things I ask them not to do or don't do the things I ask them to do. There may never be a time when parents and children agree or compromise. We dictate and they complicate. Does a family meeting really help anything. A friend of mine told me about the speaker/listener approach when communicating with my husband. This has become the only way I can communicate with my kids. They seem to like to have the control of the floor. However, they tell each other to 'Shut Up I got the floor' alot. It is a good exercise to practice for adulthood.
My Mother has been in my corner my whole life. Last night while I was talking to her I had a glimpse of not hearing her voice. I started to cry and she asked what was wrong. I told her that I loved her and that at that very moment I felt her life in me. Her love is so deep for her children that I can feel it inside me. What a measure of love. It is the same love that God has for us. He loves us so much it was felt through his son's suffering, tears and as the blood ran down his hands and feet. I can never repay my mother for her blood, sweat and tears. Just as children of God we can never repay him. The next time your mother calls and you are quick to be discouraged because you are in a hurry, stop. The next time my kids make me yell so loud that they have to cover their ears, I will stop. The next time I am in a hurry and life is getting too loud, I will stop to hear God speak to me. Never rush the time you have to be a mother you are molding a future. Never rush the time you have left to return the love to your mother, she gave you a gift of life. Never rush your praise for God, He sacrificed his son so that you may have life. Give him ALL the Glory for your mother, life, children, and his sacrifice. I love you Mom! Thanks for giving me a great example of how to be a great mother too. Your love is endless, your life is priceless and your impact in my life can only be described as God-send!! Thank you Father for finding the perfect Angel to be my Mom. I only hope that my kids will feel this way one day. I can only hope. Signing out!

New Look!

I am so happy to see how much clearer things are to me. I feel like Erykah Badu, I have stripped off my blind eyes and I have evolved into this beautiful woman that can see.
Funny how as a mother we put our needs last. Is it really sacrificing when you give so freely to your children. I have never given a second 'glance' at what I gave up to provide for my children. I joke about trading them for Ham or Tuna Sandwiches but at the end of the day, I wouldn't trade them for my life. When they are all quiet and not crying, fussing, fighting, complaining, nagging, begging, ignoring or pouting; I can remember that kiss that they gave me before bedtime. I remember them saying you lost weight when in fact I gained 5 pounds. They say you are the most beautiful and bestest mom in the world, right after I yelled at them about lights out. How they held my face in thier little hand and made me look them in the eyes as they said I love you Mommy. I missed you Mommy. Oh how all the little things no longer matter. Like getting glasses which I haven't done for myself in 3 yrs. I love being able to see but I think I saw things a little differently. I saw the love and affection in my children without new glasses.

Hello World!

I woke up this morning and I heard from Him. He touched me ever so gently with the rays of sunshine in His fingers. He said everything was gonna be alright for it was morning. Joy comes in the morning so go out and tell them how Great I AM!! I found comfort in the security of his hands. His Mercy runs endlessly for me. I am His humble servant but I am only man and He is my Savior. He has never forsaken me. He was in the Doctor's office when they said I was developing Gluacoma. His Mercy said No! He was in the court room when they wanted to give me Jail time.. His Mercy said No! He turned my cheek when I was mad at my family. His Mercy Said No!! Thank you Father for loving me.

Joy's Jurnee: Mothering from 2716 McKinney St

Joy's Jurnee: Mothering from 2716 McKinney St

Mothering from 2716 McKinney St

My Mother has a way of running my house when I am already there. Does she think I am dead or that I am not capable. Now, seriously this reminds me of the book If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. I gave this woman entrance into my married home the first time I complained about my husband Fernando. Now, once I let her in, there was no getting her out. No matter what is wrong she can fix it because my husband is not capable of doing it. This all being because I did not "train" him yet. Did you know that you have to train your spouse? I thought all they needed to know they learned from their parents. Well, according to my Mother that is ONLY true if the parents were good examples or that they taught their sons and daughters better. I have since learned that my in-laws dropped the ball and few times. I knew I had to get a hand on this situation of Mothering from beyond me moving out. Don't get me wrong I grew up around 34yrs old and pulled the reins on her but the lady is a Control Monster. If she is not controlling me and my brothers lives she gets all upset. So we give her some control. Grant it, I messed up and gave her too much. My kids actually call her and 'tell' on me. She told me on my last visit home that Grammiville over rules ALL punishments and restrictions. You see my 17 yr old was grounded from use of 'our' phones. So, Shirley gives him her cell phone. WTH!!!! I live in a world of Love and Choas as my brother Troy puts it.

My Mother

A Mother’s Love
By: Shirlette J. Rivera




I sat and watched a Mother love her child to no end
The Father hadn’t been there since the child’s life began
I watch her pray by the window and ask God WHY?
Why can a love so great bring pain and hurt and make you cry.
She heard not a word and went back to her daily chores
As her little one played and laughter came from outdoors
She worked her fingers to the bone to make ends meet
Daily she worked hard walking and running on her feet
No one stops to say hello or to ask how is her day
I see the tears roll down her face as she wipes them away.
The pain is overwhelming so she pray through her stress
Her only gift is knowing that she is Blessed.
When God created woman he had a Mother in mind
He made her strong, enduring, loving and kind
It was written that she was created to be Man’s wife
Yet, a woman, a Mother is the beginning of Life.


I thank you Mother for giving me Life.
I wish I could take back all the pain and worry
I love, admire, adore and live in constant awe of you!